614 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



May 1, 1921 



PERSONAL MENTION 



F. Zech, rubber buyer for Fred Stern & Co., New York, N. Y., 

 and Stern & Knowlcs, London, England, was tendered a dinner 

 in Singapore late in February by friends, almost all of them 

 connected with the rubber business, prior to leaving on a trip to 

 Furope and the United States. A novel souvenir was provided 

 for Mr. Zech in a sheet of pale crepe bearini; tlio signatures in 

 copying ink of all those present. 



CEYLON 



Interesting data were given in the annual report presented at a 

 recent meeting of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at Colombo. 



Ceylon's industries, with the exception of coconut oil and copra, 

 sufltered from the general trade depressi(;n prevailing everywhere. 

 The Government's offer to set aside 10 million rupees to aid tea 

 and rubber estates was withdrawn. Estates were also hard hit 

 by the high price of rice and it has been calculated that tea and 

 rubber estates alone suffered a loss of 24 million rupees from 

 this cause. 



The total exports of rubber amounted to 87,296,356 pounds, and 

 had voluntary restriction not been undertaken toward the end 

 of the year, exports would have reached about 95 million pounds. 

 Comparative figures for the years 1920 and 1919, with the coun- 

 tries of destination, follow : 



1919 1920 



Pounds Pounds 



To United Kingdom 32.973,661 44,717.774 



America 66,404.500 38,814.178 



Europe 473.303 2,499,619 



Australia 270.567 891.464 



Japan 267.427 326,345 



Other countries 3,373 46,976 



Totals 100,392,831 87,296,356 



America led in 1919 with 65 per cent of the exports, but drop- 

 ped to second place, with 44 per cent in 1920. England, which 

 in 1919 had taken 33 per cent of the total exports, stood first in 

 1920, her share being 51 per cent. Shipments to Europe showed 

 an increase of 2,026,316 pounds principally to Germany. France 

 and Italy. 



Particulars relating to rubber offered at the local auctions dur- 

 ing the last five years, follow : 



Average Price 

 Per Pound, 

 Pounds Rupees 



1916 24,675.206 1.79 



1917 23.039,670 1.49 



1918 20.S69.79S :... 



1919 37.927,220 1.00 



1920 36,078,693 0.70 



For producers, 1920 was a very disappointing year. During 

 Jjuiuary prices were steady with pale cri=pe and No. 1 ribbed sheet 

 selling at rupees 1.10 a pound; clean brown scrap crepe at 95 

 cents, and curly scrap at 70 cents. However, prices declined until 

 at the end of the year pale crepe stood at 48 rupee cents (rupee — 

 about 32 cents. United States currency, at normal rate of ex- 

 change) ; ribbed sheet 38 cents, clean brown scrap crepes 30 

 cents and curly scrap 23 cents. These prices give an average 

 well under the cost of production to most producers. 



Recent inquiries show that while European-controlled estates in 

 Ceylon are widely supporting the scheme for reducing output by 

 25 per cent, a large number of Ceylonese who own small rubber 

 estates have failed to come into line. There are a number of 

 these small acreages planted to rubber, the total area being no less 

 than 40,000 acres. So far, little interest has been taken in the 

 Malayan plan for compulsory restriction by 50 per cent. How- 

 ever, it is possible, that owing to the attitude of the Ceylonese, 

 interest in this scheme w\\\ grow, particularly if it is adopted in 

 Malaya. 



LOCAL trSES FOa EUBBER 



An editorial in The Weekly Times of Ceylon mentions the 

 various uses to which rubber has been put locally. Several estates 

 are making and selling scrap rubber soles for boots and shoes. 

 One planter is experimenting with scrap rubber on his cart roads. 

 Locally made rubber studs to prevent windows from rattling are 



not unknown. A well-known proprietor has used his scrap rubber 

 extensively on stairs, windows and doors of his bungalow. 



CEYLON AND THE LONDON EXHIBITION 



Ceylon's representation at the forthcoming exhibition will be 

 divided into the following classes: 1. Crepe; 2. Unsmoked sheet; 

 3. Smoked sheet; 4. Block; 5. Scrap Crepe No. 1; 6. Clean curly 

 scrap : 7. Any smoke cure. 



NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES 



While the stronger rubber concerns i:i the Netherlands East 

 Indies have been able to carry through, there are many weak 

 estates that are in difficulties. It is expected that in consequence 

 there will be opportunities for securing good lands at reduced 

 rates. This seems to be particularly true of Sumatra, East and 

 West Coast, where many concessions arc in the hands of those 

 lacking either the capital or the desire to cultivate them. 



Local planters are not enthusiastic over output restriction, and 

 the big concerns particularly are keeping out of the movement. 

 J. N. Burger, manager of various Dutch rubber-planting con- 

 cerns, considers that efforts should rather be centered on reducing 

 the cost than the output of rubber. In his opinion the present 

 low market price is sufficient inducement to clear the accumulated 

 stocks of rubber. 



Sumatra has adopted a wait-and-see policy with regard to re- 

 striction. The movement in Malaya is being carefully observed 

 and action here will be influenced by results obtained there. 

 The expressed opinion is that output reduction can better be 

 judged in Europe than in the lands of production, since there are 

 other factors, outside of the East, that contribute in great part to 

 the present crisis. 



The rumors of English efforts to get local producers to join a 

 syndicate that would centralize the sale of rubber and fix mini- 

 mum prices, are not without a basis of f.ict. The opinion in cer- 

 tain quarters is that a majority of the planters would be willing 

 to cooperate ; however, it seems probable, that certain influential 

 producers would be opposed to the movement. 



NEW HEVEA DISEASE 



In the Archicf voor de Rubbercultuur, P. E. Keuchenius de- 

 scribes a new disease of Hevea brasUiensis, found in Malaya and 

 the East Coast of Sumatra, though not in Java. The bark of infected 

 trees is quite dry, can easily be removed and shows concentric 

 bursts. In older cases, the bark gradually drops off and the 

 concentric circles appear as typical rosettes. When the cork 

 layer is scraped off, a sepia discoloration is found ; this area is 

 very full of sap and is sometimes attacked by borers. It is said 

 that the disease is not dangerous as it never attacks the cam- 

 bium. While the cause is not definitely known, it is certainly a 

 disease of infection, originating in superficial wounds, and seems 

 to be due to mould. 



FRENCH INDO-CHINA 



An oflicial report states that under a decree of November 9, 

 1920, issued by the Governor-General of Indo-China, a subsidy of 

 450.000 piastres is granted to the rubber planters of French Indo- 

 China in regard to their exports for the year ended March 31, 

 1921. 



The decree contains a clause to the effect that if a customs duty 

 is placed in France upon the importation of foreign rubber, the 

 subsidy will be reduced proportionally by the amount of that duty. 

 Furthermore, if the value of rubber per kilo on the London market 

 exceeds the exchange value of the piastre by two francs, the pay- 

 ment of the subsidy will be suspended entirely. One quarter of 

 the present subsidy will be borne by the Government of Cochin- 

 Giina, where most of the rubber plantations are located, and the 

 remainder by the Government of Indo-China. 



There is a real need for government aid. for the combined 

 effects of falling prices, abnormally high rate of the piastre and 

 the high cost of labor make exploitation impossible. Although 

 most planters need help, there are a certain number fortunate 

 enough to be favorably located and able to turn out satisfactory 

 dividends. 



